Quote Originally Posted by Deborski View Post
It's really true! Here, if you study Russian, they call you a "commie." I can't count the number of times people have made fun of me because of my life-long interest in Russia and it's culture, people, and language. Also, resources are not exactly commonplace.

I don't know why Americans cling to these stupid, outdated stereotypes. I try to inform them. Mostly, they just are not very interested in Russia. Too bad for them! They are missing out.
One thing I think about stereotypes, Deborski, is that for every person we meet that we think is that stereotype, often there is another person that is exactly opposite, or at least unlike the stereotype. When one is talking about millions of people, even having met a few thousand doesn't give an accurate cross section of a populace, I don't think. I try to be on my guard about making stereotypes in my head. I'm not always successful, but I think it's important to be critical that way.